Council green lights Highton apartments

THE City of Greater Geelong has granted a planning permit for the construction of a three-storey apartment building in Highton.

The application, which proposes to develop and subdivide 10 apartments at 34 Barrabool Road, was discussed for the second time by the city’s planning committee during last week’s meeting.

The site presently houses a single storey detached mid-20th century dwelling and is located just over 100m north of the Highton Village shops.

The application proposes a combination of two- and three-bedroom apartments, a basement carpark and communal outdoor area at the rear of the site.

It received 10 objections (eight formal and two informal), and one submission of support during the public notice period.

The objections made related to concerns surrounding the building’s size and number of apartments, increases in traffic and parking congestion, overshadowing, pedestrian and road safety and the loss of established vegetation.

The city’s planning committee first met to discuss the application in April, opting to defer its decision to allow alterations to be made to the plans to address some of the concerns raised, namely that the building’s orientation would cause “significant overshadowing” to surrounding dwellings.

No objections were withdrawn during this period and no additional objections were submitted.

Last week, the building’s redesign was deemed to address the city’s concerns of overshadowing, with the majority of the attending committee members voting to approve a planning permit for the site.

Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said the proposal satisfied the requirements of the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme.

“The updated application features a considered design response that contributes to housing diversity in an area earmarked for increased density, diversity and choice.

“It is conveniently located within walking and cycling distance to Highton Village and other nearby services and facilities.”

The council also voted to reject an application for a four-storey mixed use building with an office, shop and café at 26 Hicks Street in Lara, opposite the Lara train station.

Cr Sullivan said the proposal was inconsistent with the neighbourhood character and amenity of the area and also failed to meet the car parking requirements.